Road Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
Stretch of Road
Location: Sevenoaks (Kent) - Sevenoaks bypass
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: March 1979
Further Comments: A witness reported that the road she was driving on faded from view, and a ghostly one appeared to her right - potentially leading to a head-on crash with other vehicles. It is thought this phenomenon has been responsible for several fatal accidents along this road.
Irish Wolfhound
Location: Shapwick (Dorset) - Road surrounding Badbury Rings
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large phantom dog that has been reported running along the road is thought to be an Irish Wolfhound looking for his master.
Grey Woman
Location: Sheffield (South Yorkshire) - Handsworth Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2014
Further Comments: While waiting at a bus stop, two people spotted a grey-coloured older woman walking past a tree. The woman had her hands placed under her chin, seemingly to secure a headscarf, and she wore wearing long clothing. The woman turned and looked at the people at the bus stop before vanishing in a flash.
White Lady
Location: Sheffield (South Yorkshire) - Highcliffe Road, Ecclesall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Little is known about this phantom woman, other than an interesting point to note is that the road was once called Dead Man's Lane.
Man on Fire
Location: Shelfanger (Norfolk) - Wash Lane, near the church and ford
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: A ten year old girl travelling with her mother in a car was horrified by the appearance of a burning man who ran in front of the car.
Coach and Four
Location: Shepley (South Yorkshire) - Roads around the Shepley War Memorial
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Winter (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Appearing at night, this phantom coach pulled by four horses would move at breakneck speed along the roads in and around the village.
Nun with a Bag
Location: Shepshed (Leicestershire) - Grace Dieu Priory and road running by
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: This aging figure is thought to be a nun, though the fact that she carries a shopping bag appears to cast doubt on this belief. She has also been seen on the roadside, and at least one bus has stopped to pick her up.
Nancy Camel
Location: Shepton Mallet (Somerset) - Streets and lanes of the town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Night
Further Comments: This local old hag disappeared without trace many moons ago - she was renowned for walking the streets with her donkey in tow. Now she and her beast can be heard as they search the streets for people to take.
Nance
Location: Sheriff Hutton (North Yorkshire) - Area near the A64 York/London road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: Foggy weather
Further Comments: The young lady Nance has been seen standing on the side of the road holding her young baby - she died in the area after being deserted and left penniless by the child's father. It is thought she helps those lost and in peril.
Dog and his Owner
Location: Shipdham (Norfolk) - Crossroads at Blackmoor Road & Cranworth Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The dog died at the crossroads waiting for the return of his master, while the master himself died of a broken heart after losing his family after a prolonged absence from home.
Black Woman
Location: Shipmeadow (Suffolk) - Road leading to lock (known locally as Geldeston lock)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 1908 - January 1909
Further Comments: A small number of men reported seeing this phantom woman several times over two months. She was described as having a black, shadowy appearance, standing around 1.75 metres tall, and moving swiftly. On one occasion the entity brushed against one witness and, on another, disappeared over a gate and into a field.
Farmer
Location: Shipston-on-Stour (Warwickshire) - B4086, between Shipston on Stour and Atherstone
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: The area of road where a farmer once met his death in an accident is now haunted; the ghost has been seen crossing the road in front of traffic before disappearing through a brick wall.
Illuminated Couple
Location: Shotton Colliery (Durham) - Road which now runs through Bracken Hill Business Park
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early 1970s
Further Comments: While driving along a minor road, two witnesses spotted a man and a woman walking towards them in the road ahead, lit up white as if from an oncoming car. As the road was narrow, the driver slowed to a safe speed. As the car drew level to the couple, both suddenly vanished. While the man had a 1930s trench coat, the woman wore a normal winter coat that any other person would wear.
Woman in Long White Dress
Location: Shrewton (Wiltshire) - Crossroads known as 'the Gibbet' and other roads in the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970
Further Comments: The phantom woman in white can reputedly be heard as her long dress rustles past.
Coachman
Location: Shute (Devon) - Roads in the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This coachman was so bad at his job he was killed as punishment, and even in death, his coach has not been returned.
Walking Woman
Location: Sixpenny Handley (Dorset) - Road between Upwood and Deneland, and Common Drive
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early / mid twentieth century
Further Comments: A tall dark woman wearing a cape has been seen by a couple of villagers - she would vanish while walking. Other roads in the area are reputedly haunted by a man who also vanishes without warning.
Policeman
Location: Sixpenny Handley (Dorset) - Spots Green, between village and Upwood
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early 1910s
Further Comments: A phantom policeman was observed walking along the road before vanishing.
Headless on Headless
Location: Skipsea (East Riding of Yorkshire) - Roads around town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The headless highwayman seen around this area rides a headless horse. A road on a hill south of the town is haunted by a woman (who may also be headless) wearing black, who quickly vanishes just before reaching a hill.
Clifford's Coach
Location: Skipton (North Yorkshire) - High Street
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Midnight, prior to a death in the family (reoccurring)
Further Comments: The appearance of Lady Ann Clifford in her horse drawn coach was said to herald the death of the owner of the local castle.
Young Girl on Horseback
Location: Slapton (Buckinghamshire) - Road from Slaptonbury Mill (no longer standing) to farm on other side of the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 1980
Further Comments: Legend says that the girl and her horse were both drowned when the mill stream flooded; the sound of the horse's hooves can still be heard. One driver reported seeing a well-dressed person upon a white horse as they travelled between Ivinghoe Aston and Slapton. They feared that they had hit the horse, so stopped, only to find no one there.
1934 Austin
Location: Sligachan (Highland) - A850 road from the town, leading to Portree
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Racing around the roads, witnesses pull over to let this car overtake them as it approached rapidly from behind - but it always vanishes before reaching them.
White Horse
Location: Slindon (Sussex) - Area around village and Fontwell Park
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Often seen early in the morning, this riderless phantom steed moves towards witnesses and dissolves away seconds before reaching them. The entity may be related to the ghostly carriage pulled by a team of horses which was said to pass through the village along the lane close to the old butcher's shop.
Shadow
Location: Slough (Berkshire) - Meadfield Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: March 2016
Further Comments: Two people sitting in a car watched a 'shadow' pass by and disappeared up the road. One of the witnesses, who lived nearby, believed it related to a presence in their own home, which creates cold spots and generates the benign sensation of searching for something.
Man in Black
Location: Smisby (Derbyshire) - Forties Lane
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 1967
Further Comments: Walking the area in silence, this phantom is described as dressed in a long open jacket with many small buttons, a waistcoat, tie, short trousers with matching stockings and a top hat.
Airman
Location: Snailwell (Cambridgeshire) - Country road between Snailwell and Chippenham
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 2012, around 17:00h
Further Comments: During home in thick fog a driver had to slowly pass a US airman walking in the middle of the road. As the driver passed, they noticed that the airman did not appear to see the car and seemed to be glowing.
Records 926 - 950 of 1145
Quick Links
Contribute
Reports: Places
Reports: Type
Reports: People
Calendar
